Hurrah! We've Scored a GOAL!

City boss Paul Lambert has bemoaned his sides lethargic start to both halves as they failed to make the third round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1959-60 season, following their 3-1 defeat at Carlisle at the weekend

The Canaries fell well below the standard of performance seen for most of Lambert’s three months in charge, and Grant Holt made no excuses for City’s early Cup exit, and admitted: “We got what we deserved.”

Holt’s 16th goal of the season was of little consolation as Lambert’s side crashed out of the competition,  but City could have no complaints after a below par display brought only their second defeat in 15 matches in all competitions.

Whilst City’s skipper was lamenting on City’s no show, defender Adam Drury believes none of City’s regulars would have room to complain if they were left out for tomorrow night’s League One game at Southend.

Had City made it through the second round they would of been handed a third round trip to Goodison Park, but instead City’s early exit means they will play a League One fixture at Wycombe on 2 January 2010. 

Whilst it is unfortunate that City won’t be in the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first time in half a century, surely our league performances and results are of much more importance this season.

There is no excuse for the poor showing in Cumbria, but I would much prefer that City encounter their blips in matches that are less important, than to start slipping up and dropping points in the league.

A crowd of 3946 saw Carlisle United ease past Norwich City as the Canaries hopes of securing a place in the third round of the FA Cup run were ended in no uncertain terms at a fog covered Brunton Park.

Paul Lambert made just one change to the side that beat Brighton on Tuesday night, which resulted in City suffering only their second defeat in 15 matches in all competitions as Carlisle avenged their league defeat on the same ground seven weeks earlier and booked their place in the third round.

Central defender Gary Doherty made  his 200^th senior appearance for the Canaries and was partnered at the back by Michael Nelson, who was recalled to defence filling in for Jens Berthel Askou, who was missing after his wife had been taken ill, whilst 17 year old Jed Steer was included in the senior squad for the first time as one of the seven City substitutes.

The game kicked off in very foggy conditions, which had become worse in the minutes approaching the 1715 start, which also appeared to effect the attendance at Brunton Park as many of City’s support has decided against the long drive north to Cumbria.

Vincent Pericard gave the hosts the lead in the 12^th minute with an excellent finish from Joe Anyinsah’s cross, as Anyinsah crossed from the right and although the ball appeared to be behind Pericard, he managed to flick it acrobatically past Forster with his outstretched back leg.

Grant Holt levelled with his 16^th goal of the season in the 26^th minute, heading home after excellent work by Wes Hoolahan, after the midfielder had taken a pass from Drury on the left hand corner of the penalty area and went past three United defenders to reach the byline before delivering the perfect cross for Holt, stooping slightly, to head home.

The Canaries looked the better side for the rest of the first half but were behind again within 15 seconds of the restart when Kevan Hurst restored Carlisle’s lead. Pericard got the better of Lappin, crossed from the right and Hurst drilled a low shot past Forster and inside the post.

City made a double change with 20 minutes left when Hughes and McDonald replaced Russell and Chris Martin.

But they had been on the field just a minute when Carlisle made it 3-1 after Kavanagh’s corner was cleared but the ball came back to him, wide on the right, and when he crossed again, defender Keogh headed home at the far post.

A game of two halves for City, who quite easily match the Cumbrian side in the first half but failed abysmally to get going in the second, and so it’s back to East Anglia in preparation for another busy week ahead as Lamberts side travel to Roots Hall on Tuesday before heading back to Carrow Road for Saturday’s clash against Oldham Athletic.

City travel to Brunton Park this Saturday to take on Carlisle United in the Third Round of The FA Cup, with the match being streamed live on The FA website.

The League One rivals enter the tie on the back of excellent midweek results as Norwich beat Brighton 4-1 at Carrow Road and Carlisle battled to a 4-3 victory away to MK Dons.

The two teams have already met once this season and it was Paul Lambert’s side who came out on top, when a first half goal from Wes Hoolahan was enough to give the Canaries all three points at Greg Abbot’s Carlisle.

The City boss seems intent on seeing his side through to the next round in the hope of being drawn against one of the bigger sides, when teams from The Premiership and Championship join the competition, and also picking up the £67500 for the progression.

Lambert is likely to name an unchanged side for the match, which will see defender Gary Doherty make his 200^th appearance for Norwich, having joined the Canaries from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2004.

Only one of the two new loan signings is eligible to figure in the game, so whilst Russell Martin could be named on the subs bench, supporters will have to wait a little while longer before they get to run their eye over Anthony McNamee.

Whilst the Canaries have no new injury problems, Greg Abbot’s side are without defender David Raven who remains absent with a hip injury, whilst Captain Paul Thirlwell is out with an achilles injury.

The duo are joined by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who has a knee injury, and striker Richard Offiong, who jarred his knee in training during the week, whilst Andy Cook will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot.